Step apparatus

ABSTRACT

There is provided step apparatus comprising a mounting plate ( 60 ) colocated with a pintle hook assembly ( 61 ) of a vehicle. The mounting plate ( 60 ) has an upper extension ( 65 ) having formed thereon a pair of spaced lugs ( 66 ) adapted to mount a step assembly ( 67 ) comprising a moulded step member ( 70 ) secured to a step member support ( 72 ) having a pair of spaced pivot lugs ( 73 ). The step assembly is pivotally mounted to the spaced lugs ( 66 ) by pivot pin ( 74 ). The spaced lugs ( 66 ) are configured having an upper bearing surface ( 75 ) whereby in use the underside of the step member support ( 72 ) may bear thereon to take at least part of the step loads. The dimensions and configuration of the spaced lugs ( 66 ), mounting plate ( 60 ) and step member support ( 72 ) are selected whereby the raising limit of the step assembly ( 67 ) is defined by the bearing of the rear edge of the step member support ( 72 ) on the upper edge of the upper extension ( 65 ).

This invention relates to step apparatus.

This invention has particular but not exclusive application for stepapparatus to allow easier access to the rear of tray-back utilityvehicles and for illustrative purposes reference will be made to suchapplication. However, it is to be understood that this invention can beused in other applications such as providing steps on the rear ofvehicles generally.

In the use of utility vehicles, it is common that the operator muststand on the bumper bar or towing hitch in order to reach into thetrayback. The towing hitch is, with hitch ball installed, a curvedsurface, often greasy, which is not a safe support for standing. Wherethe ball is removed, the hitch is of limited dimension, may also begreasy and generally does not form a safe step.

The present invention aims to alleviate at least one of the foregoingdisadvantages and to provide step apparatus which will be reliable andefficient in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, this invention in oneaspect resides broadly in step apparatus including:

a mounting portion adapted to engage a vehicle in the region of thetowing hitch; and

a step portion supported on said mounting portion.

The mounting portion may take any suitable form dictated by the form oftowing hitch and its environs on the vehicle. Preferably, the mountingportion is secured to the vehicle by the hitch assembly or a portionthereof, whereby the step apparatus may be affixed to existing vehicles.Alternatively, the mounting portion may be formed integrally with thevehicle or hitch assembly.

The mounting portion may comprise a metal or reinforced plastic mountingmember or complementary section to the tubular box section Hayman Reecehitch mount provided on heavier utilities and four wheel drive vehicles,as well as some sedans. Alternatively, the mounting portion may comprisea body member having a threaded stud adapted to engage the hitch ballaperture in a conventional gooseneck. In a yet further embodiment of theinvention, the mounting means may comprise a body member adapted toengage the hitch ball of the towing hitch.

In a yet further embodiment of the invention, the mounting means may beadapted to secure to the ultimate mounting point of any of theaforementioned hitching arrangements. For example, some hitched comprisea bolted up arrangement at the rear of the vehicle. In these cases, themounting means may comprise a mounting flange adapted to be boltedthrough as the hitch assembly is itself mounted.

In the case of the complementary portion adapted to engage the heavyduty towing hitch mount of a utility or four wheel drive, thecomplementary portion is preferably provided with a transverse apertureor tube adapted to register with the locking pin holes in the vehiclehitch mount whereupon the body member may be locked into engagementtherewith with the standard pin otherwise used to engage the removabletowing hitch.

In the case of the apparatus adapted to engage the hitch ball, the bodyportion may comprise a socket or the like adapted to pass over thetowing hitch ball, preferably extending down to bear squarely on thegooseneck. The socket is preferably associated with interengagementmeans adapted to secure the socket on the hitch ball. The lower end ofthe body portion may be adapted to pass down the sides of the gooseneckwhereupon the apparatus may be locked in position beneath the gooseneckby a locking pin or the like.

The step portion may be integrally formed with the mounting portion ormay be separable therefrom. For example, the step portion may beintegrally formed of moulded plastics with the mounting portion.Alternatively, the step portion may be bolted to the mounting portion,or in the case of metal assemblies may be welded thereto. As a yetfurther alternative, the step portion and mounting portion may beintegrally cast or moulded in metal or plastic.

The step portion may comprise a closed step surface. Alternatively, thestep portion may comprise an open grate or the like, in order to reducethe likelihood of slippage due to mud.

The mounting means may be secured to the vehicle or hitch assembly andsupport the step portion in a position which renders the hitch assemblyinoperable. For example, the step portion may be selectively secured tothe mounting portion, whereby in use the step portion preventsattachment or detachment of a hitched towable vehicle. The selectivesecuring of the step portion to the mounting portion may be by anysuitable means providing the requisite security, such as securing meanslockable by padlock.

The step portion may be mounted to the mounting portion in a mannerpermitting the step- to be moved from an in-use position to a stowedposition. For example, the step portion may be hinged to the mountingportion whereby the step portion may be moved from an in use positionwhere the step is disposed above the vehicle hitch to a stowed positionwhereby the hitch may be undone. In addition, or in the alternative, thestep portion may be removable from the mounting portion when not in use.

In order that this invention may be more readily understood and put intopractical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanyingdrawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention andwherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of alternate apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of yet further alternate embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of yet further alternate embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a yet further alternate embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of yet further alternate embodiment of thepresent invention.

In FIG. 1 there is provided a step apparatus 10 adapted to engage avehicle towing hitch mount 11 which comprises a metal box section havingan end opening 12 and a transverse drilling 13 adapted to receive alocking pin 14.

The step apparatus comprises a mounting portion 15 of complementary boxsection to the end opening 12 and corresponding pin apertures 16 adaptedto register with the apertures 13 on insertion of the mounting portion15 in the opening 12.

Welded to the mounting-portion 15 is a metal step portion 17 having anon-slip textured surface 20.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, alternative step apparatus 21comprises a mounting portion 22 having downwardly depending threadedstud 23 at the inner end thereof and welded on step portion 24 at theouter end thereof. The step portion 24 is provided with a non-slip uppersurface 25. The threaded stud 23 is adapted to engage the hitch ballaperture 26 of a conventional gooseneck 27, and secured in positionthereon by virtue of securing nut 30.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, there is provided stepapparatus 31 comprising an integral metal casting having an upper stepportion 32 having non-slip surface 33, and integrally formed mountingsocket portion 34. The socket portion 34 is adapted to pass over thehitch ball 35 as installed on a conventional gooseneck 36. The socketportion 34 has an upper domed inner surface 37 adapted to receive thespherical upper surface of the hitch ball 35 and a lower substantiallycylindrical flange portion 40 adapted to bear on the gooseneck 36. Theflange portion 40 is provided with a slot at 41 adapted to receive alocking yoke 42 and is further provided with a locking pin aperture 43adapted to register with a corresponding locking pin aperture 44provided through one arm of the locking yoke 42.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, there is provided stepapparatus 45 comprising a mounting portion 46 in the form of a metalplate and provided with a pattern of bolt holes 47 corresponding to thethreaded hitch mounting holes 50 provided on a vehicle bumper 51. A stepportion 52 is welded to an upper edge of the mounting portion 46 and isprovided with a non slip surface 53.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, there is provided step apparatus comprisinga mounting plate 60 adapted to be colocated with a pintle hook assembly61 on a rear member 62 of a vehicle having a mounting pad 63 for thepurpose. Threaded holes (not shown) enable the pintle hook assembly 61and mounting plate 60 to be secured by bolts 64. The mounting plate 60has an upper extension 65 extending above the mounting pad 63 and havingformed thereon a pair of spaced lugs 66 adapted to mount a step assembly67.

The step assembly 67 comprises a moulded plastic step member 70 securedby nut and bolt assembly 71 to a step member support 72 having a pair ofspaced pivot lugs 73, the step assembly being pivotally mounted to thespaced lugs 66 by pivot pin 74. The spaced lugs 66 are configured havingan upper bearing surface 75 whereby in use the underside of the stepmember support 72 may bear thereon to take at least part of the steploads. The dimensions and configuration of the spaced lugs 66, mountingplate 60 and step member support 72 are selected whereby the raisinglimit of the step assembly 67 is defined by the bearing of the rear edgeof the step member support 72 on the upper-edge of the upper extension65.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, a variation on the embodiment of FIG. 5 isprovided with like numerals indicating like components. In thisembodiment step apparatus is provided which is adapted to mount to aconventional gooseneck 80. A generally L-shaped mounting member 81 has alower flange 82 adapted to secured by a hitch ball 83 and nut 84. Anupright flange 85 of the mounting member 81 performs the function of theupper extension 65 of FIG. 5.

The embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6 are particularly suitable for providinga lockable arrangement whereby the step assembly 67 when locked in itsdeployed position serves to prevent the hitching or unhitching of atowed vehicle. For example, the lugs 73 may be configured to extend downalong the inner surface of one or more of the support lugs 66, whereby adrilling through adjacent lugs 73 and support lugs 66 may providepassage for a locking bolt or padlock which retains the step assembly 67in its deployed position.

A vehicle hitched to the pintle hook 61 or hitch ball 83 respectivelycould not then be removed until the bolt or padlock is removed and thestep assembly 67 moved to its stowed position. Similarly, a hitch couldnot be made unless the step assembly were unlocked and moved to itsstowed position.

It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given byway of illustrative example of this invention, all such and othermodifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to personsskilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambitof this invention as defined in the claims appended hereto.

1. A step attachment for a trailer hitch having a hitch ball, said hitchhaving a longitudinal axis and said attachment including: a mountingmember adapted to be secured to the hitch by the hitch ball stud andhaving a mounting portion extending in front of the hitch ball, and astep hinged to the mounting portion by a pivot pin secured to saidmounting portion, whereby the step is pivotable about a horizontal axistransverse to said longitudinal axis, between a deployed position and astowed position, wherein in the deployed position, the step is disposedabove the hitch ball and is usable regardless of whether a trailer ismounted on the hitch ball, and wherein in the stowed position, the stepis forward of the hitch ball.
 2. A step attachment as recited in claim1, further comprising means for locking the step in said deployedposition against unauthorized operation thereof.
 3. A step attachment asrecited in claim 2, wherein the step, in its deployed position, issufficiently close to the hitch to prevent a trailer tongue mounted onthe hitch ball from coming off the hitch ball.
 4. A step attachment asrecited in claim 1, wherein said mounting portion includes two spacedlugs, wherein the pivot pin is mounted between the lugs, and whereineach lug has an upper bearing surface which is adapted to support theunderside of the step when the step is in its deployed position.